PSA 10 Requirements Explained
What it really takes to earn a Gem Mint grade — and the centering tolerances you need to hit.
A PSA 10, or "Gem Mint," is the highest grade PSA awards. It signals a virtually flawless card — and earning one requires excellence across every grading factor, not just one.
The Four Pillars of a Gem Mint 10
- Centering — approximately 55/45 or better on the front, with a slightly more lenient standard on the back.
- Corners — sharp and clean under magnification, with no visible wear or fraying.
- Edges — smooth and free of chipping, whitening, or roughness.
- Surface — no scratches, print lines, indentations, or gloss breaks.
Why Centering Is the Gatekeeper
Of the four factors, centering is the one you can measure precisely before submitting. Corners, edges, and surface require a trained eye, but centering is math. If a card fails the centering threshold, it cannot reach a 10 — making it the smartest factor to check first.
Realistic Expectations
Even modern cards pulled straight from a pack can have centering or surface issues that cap them below a 10. That's exactly why pre-screening matters: it saves you grading fees on cards that were never going to gem.
Pre-screen the easy factor first
Use MintySlab to confirm a card clears the centering bar before you spend money submitting it. If the centering isn't there, no amount of perfect corners will get you a 10 — and you'll have saved a submission fee.
The Bottom Line
A PSA 10 rewards cards that are excellent in every dimension. Start by measuring the one you can control and quantify — centering — then evaluate corners, edges, and surface before committing to a submission.
Stop guessing — let MintySlab measure centering for you. Scan Before You Slab.